Feldman: Matt Carpenter the epitome of the Cardinal Way

At just a little over $500,000, Carpenter is hitting around .280 and has shown occasional power. But his true value to the team comes in his versatility. He can play almost anywhere, can bat lead off, and has decent speed. By Jonathan Daniel

By John Bailey

ST. LOUIS - When all is said and done after Kolten Wong gets established in the big leagues (whenever that may be), it's going to be one interesting dynamic to see how the Cardinals handle playing time for Wong, Matt Carpenter and David Freese at second/third base.

Will one have to be moved? Can they find enough at-bats for all three to justify their salaries? It's impossible to tell right now.

But watching the way Carpenter has changed the look of this offense with his ability to get on base and spark rallies for the big boys in the middle, here's hoping whatever the future holds involves him in it.

Does anyone else on this team epitomize the Cardinal Way more than him? With his grit, his work ethic, his personality, his willingness to do whatever it takes to win, whenever the team talks about playing like a Cardinal aren't they talking about Carpenter?

If GM John Mozeliak could, from scratch, draw up the intangibles of a player wouldn't he draw up his second baseman?

Forget the raw numbers which, by the way, are outstanding. A .323 batting average with a .407 on-base percentage and a .877 OPS is just flat out filthy for a lead off hitter. But the way he goes about his business off the field just screams "Cardinal".

Carpenter never gives away an at-bat, he takes every extra base that's available to him, he's smart and doesn't make the stupid play that loses games. He's a gamer. There's really no other way to put it.

No one knows what the future holds. David Freese has obviously proven himself at the highest of levels in Major League baseball. Kolten Wong, by all accounts, is a rising star at second base. There could be room for all three in the long term. Then again, there may not.